New scorecard ranks legislators on environmental records
NASHVILLE (AP) — A new scorecard ranking Tennessee legislators on their environmental voting records shows not enough is done to protect and enhance the state’s natural resources, advocates said Thursday.
“We’d very much like to see more positive actions taken. We spend a lot of the time stopping bad bills, and that’s not the way to help the environment. I think they’re basically doing a bad job,” said Penny Brooks, incoming president of Tennessee Conservation Voters, a nonprofit coalition of 17 groups working to protect Tennessee’s environment.
The scorecard examines lawmakers’ votes on 24 environmental bills introduced in the General Assembly last year.
Lawmakers received positive or negative points for sponsoring a bill, “actively promoting or trying to defeat a bill” and actually voting on legislation. All three actions were taken into account because most bills in the General Assembly do not come up for vote by the full chambers. For example, in 2003, only three environmental bills made it to the House or Senate floor.
That means not all lawmakers even had the opportunity to consider legislation concerning the environment.
Three members of the Senate’s Environment, Conservation and Tourism Committee tied for the lowest score — Tommy Kilby, D-Wartburg; Mae Beavers, R-Mt. Juliet and Charlotte Burks, D-Monterey.
All three voted against a bill that would have allowed the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency to make rules and regulations to adjust fees for licenses and permits. A similar bill passed both chambers this month.
The three also voted to reallocate funds designated for wetlands acquisition to the general fund, as part of Gov. Phil Bredesen’s balance-budgeting effort.
“We know the senators with low ratings may be taken by surprise, but we hope they will understand that we looked at their votes objectively and that it was nothing personal,” Brooks said. “We are optimistic that they will be able to improve their scores in 2004.”
Sen. Jerry Cooper, D-Morrison, ranked highest of the group’s “heroes” by voting nine times in favor of the environment on various bills — including the two listed above. He also sponsored a bill that would ensure that “farming with insecticides, fungicides and rodenticides is done in a safe manner,” according to the group.
Sen. Ward Crutchfield, D-Chattanooga, came in second, followed by Rep. Russell Johnson, R-Loudon.
Calls to the lawmakers seeking comment were not immediately returned.
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A list of how all lawmakers scored can be found at the Tennessee Conservation Voters Web site: http://wwww.tnconservationvoters.org/TCV/index3.htm.
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